OIF business delegation meeting at a glance
On June 11, 2024, come and meet a Francophone business delegation at HEC Montréal, as part of the Francophonie economic and trade mission to North America organized by the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) in Montréal and Québec City. The delegation, drawn from French-speaking states and governments in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Indian Ocean, will bring together some 100 representatives of selected companies and economic institutions active in the renewable energies (energy transition), digital services (Edtech, Medtech, video games) and agrifood sectors. Representatives of Canada's French-speaking business community will also be in attendance.
With the support of the Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie du Québec (MRIF) and its partners (Ville de Montréal, Global Affairs Canada, governments of New Brunswick and Ontario), this OIF economic mission aims to strengthen trade and investment links between companies in the French-speaking world. Following their stopover in Montréal, the French-speaking companies will join forces with the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec and Commerce International Québec to visit regional businesses, thanks to the support of Investissement Québec International (IQI). The final leg of the mission will take place on June 13 at the Centre des congrès de Québec, in conjunction with the second edition of the Rendez-vous d'affaires de la Francophonie, organized by Québec International.
The exclusive June 11 event in Montréal offers Quebec companies a unique platform to explore growth and partnership opportunities in a dynamic French-speaking economic environment. Join us to meet French-speaking companies, participate in high-level economic forums and forge strategic, concrete links in the heart of Montréal.
- The French-speaking world has considerable economic potential, and Quebec must capitalize on this to diversify its markets. Francophonie is:
- The 5th most learned language in the world and the 3rd most important business language;
- Over 20% of the world's merchandise trade;
- 16.5% of the world's wealth;
- A potential market of 1.4 billion people (18% of the world's population), 321 million of whom speak French.
- According to projections by the OIF's Observatoire de la langue française, the number of French speakers could reach 750 million by 2070, more than two-thirds of them in Africa, a fast-growing market giving us the opportunity to build business relationships in French not only in Africa, but on all five continents.
| COMPANY NAME |
BUSINESS SECTOR |
| Adara Sarl |
Agri-food |
| Africa Vision For Development Sarl |
Agri-food, Sustainable Energies |
| Antananarivo Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
- |
| AROBS Transilvania Software |
Digital, EdTech |
| Auctux |
Digital, Video Games |
| Benin Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
- |
| Bilanga Solutions |
Agri-food, Digital |
| Bio Stratège Guyane |
Agri-food, Other Sector |
| Bioget |
Sustainable Energies, Agri-food |
| Biozen |
Other − Cosmetics |
| Burkina Export Promotion Agency (APEX-Burkina) |
- |
| Burkina Trading International |
Sustainable Energies |
| Canadian Chamber of Commerce |
- |
| Canadian School of Tunis |
Digital, EdTech |
| Candis |
Agri-food |
| Chains Co., Ltd. |
- |
| Challenge Migration Solutions |
Digital, Agri-food |
| Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, Mines and Crafts |
- |
| Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti |
- |
| Clediss |
Digital |
| Comunicare Solutions SA |
Digital, MedTech |
| Conseil national du patronat du Bénin / Atral |
- |
| Cornu SA, boulangerie fine |
Agri-food |
| Creative Cameroun |
Digital, Other Sector |
| CyberSpector |
Digital |
| DigitalPlanet |
Digital |
| Digitech |
Digital |
| Dija Services |
Digital |
| Diman-Ni Organics |
Agri-food |
| Dirom V Srl |
Agri-food |
| Djibouti Chamber of Commerce |
- |
| Digital Incubation Society of Gabon |
Digital |
| EdTech France |
Digital, EdTech |
| EGE (Cambodia) Energy Solutions Co., Ltd. |
- |
| ElectricLink |
Sustainable Energies |
| Emicom |
Sustainable Energies |
| Esoft Burkina Sarl |
- |
| ETS Sobasoft 4 Computer Engineering-P |
Digital, Sustainable Energies, Medical Industry |
| Exalt |
Digital, EdTech |
| Fiditech |
Digital, MedTech |
| Flora-of-Madagascar (FLORAMAD) |
Other − Cosmetics |
| Fox Consulting Service |
Digital, Video Games |
| FRIENDS |
Agri-food |
| Gabon National Investment Promotion Agency (ANPI-Gabon) |
- |
| Groupe Lassale |
Digital |
| H-Venture |
Digital, EdTech |
| IF-Tech |
Digital, EdTech |
| IndiBot |
Digital, MedTech |
| Ingenium |
Sustainable Energies |
| Innovative Plus |
Digital, EdTech |
| IT Web Solution |
Digital, EdTech |
| ITECH Solutions |
Digital |
| Jovan Group |
Digital, Sustainable Energies |
| Laos National Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
- |
| Laswenyay |
Digital, MedTech |
| Lebanese Industrialists Association |
- |
| Lekòl Konekte |
Digital, EdTech |
| Lifexpress |
Other Sector, Sustainable Energies |
| LM Group |
- |
| Ministère des Relations extérieures, Direction des Relations avec l'OIF |
- |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cambodia |
- |
| National Agency for Investment Promotion Comoros |
- |
| National Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Senegal |
- |
| NET-INFO, School of Art and Technology |
Digital, Video Games |
| New Vision Group |
Agri-food, Other Sector |
| Pastor Help |
Digital |
| Peniel Vision Technologie |
Digital |
| Pilgrimage |
Digital |
| PPBCN & Mondubook |
- |
| PPBCN Consulting |
- |
| Recreation Multimedia |
Digital |
| RIAFPI |
- |
| Sipo Fruits et Légumes SARL |
Agri-food, Sustainable Energies |
| So Damn Desserts |
Agri-food |
| Typhaine Services |
Digital, Other Sector |
| Uni-Vert Haïti-RSE |
Other Sector |
| Verditra Sarlu |
Digital, MedTech |
| WT Technology |
Digital |
| Wurami |
Digital, EdTech |
| Yubile Technologie |
Digital, MedTech |
This is a unique opportunity to:
- Understand international French-speaking markets and refine your expansion strategies.
- Explore growth opportunities in the French-speaking economy, particularly in key sectors such as renewable energies, digital services and agri-food.
- Establish lasting partnerships through targeted business meetings with international French-speaking companies from Africa, America, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Indian Ocean.
- Expand your international network through effective networking with economic players from all over the world.
- Discover innovations and best business practices by interacting with companies and experts from the French-speaking world.
Here's what the day has in store for you:
High-level economic forum: Attend stimulating discussions presented by renowned panelists on Francophone economic issues and discover growth opportunities in various sectors.
Networking lunch: Take advantage of a privileged moment to exchange with entrepreneurs and experts from the French-speaking world, expand your network and explore new collaborations.
Business-to-business (B2B) sessions: Meet potential partners in personalized, expert-facilitated business meetings, to help you turn business opportunities into reality and open up new markets.
Networking cocktail: End the day on a high note with a networking cocktail, the perfect opportunity to strengthen existing ties and create new perspectives.
Don't miss this exceptional opportunity to develop your business and forge valuable links within the global Francophonie.
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. – Welcome and registration with continental breakfast
8:45 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Opening remarks
Master of Ceremonies:
- Oria Kije Vande Weghe
Director of Communications for the OIF, Spokesperson for the Secretary General
Speeches:
- Martine Biron
Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, Quebec
- Louise Mushikiwabo
Secretary General of the Francophonie
- Glen Savoie
Minister responsible for La Francophonie, New Brunswick
- Stéphane Sarrazin
Parliamentary Assistant for Francophone Affairs and Small Business, Ontario
- Government of Canada representative (to be confirmed)
9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Keynote session “La Francophonie in support of business in North America”
Moderator:
- Hélène Drainville
Assistant Deputy Minister, African Relations, Francophonie and Multilateral Affairs, Quebec
Speakers:
- Louise Mushikiwabo
Secretary General of La Francophonie
- Bicha Ngo
President and Chief Executive Officer, Investissement Québec
- Lionel Zinsou
President of Terra Nova, former prime minister of Benin
- Gaëtan Thomas
President, Alliance de la francophonie économique canadienne
10:45 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. – Information session on Ville de Montréal opportunities
Welcome and introduction by:
- Jacques Robert
Director of the Department of International Business, HEC Montréal (to be confirmed)
- Caroline Bourgeois
Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee and responsible for the French language for the Ville de Montréal
- Éric Labelle
Director of the Ville de Montréal’s Service du développement économique (to be confirmed)
11:10 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. – Coffee break
CONCURRENT THEMATIC WORKSHOPS
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Workshop 1: Agri-food
Moderator: Agriculture Canada
Speakers:
- Indira Moudi
President and CEO, Viandes Lafrance (Quebec)
- Patrice Dubreuil
Director of International Sales, Ecolution Agriculture (Ontario)
- Cécile Martin-Phipps
Director, Institut de la Francophonie pour le développement durable (OIF)
- Volatiana Rasaon
Sales Manager, Floramad (Madagascar)
Discussions
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Workshop 2 : Educational technologies (Edtech)
Moderator:
- Federico Puebla
President and CEO, Créativité Québec
Speakers:
- Anne-Solène Rioult
Co-founder, AGORAlliance (Ontario)
- Josiane Trudel
Account Manager, Nexam (Canada)
- Samia Chelbi
Founder and Head of Innovation, NetInfo (Tunisia)
- Stéphanie Jecrois
Technovation Montréal (Quebec)
Discussions
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Workshop 3 : Digital
Moderator:
- Mehdi Benboubakeur
President and CEO, Printemps numérique (Quebec)
Speakers:
- Bertrand Milot
President, Bradley & Rollins (Ontario)
- Jean-Manassé Théagène
President and CEO, 360medlink (Quebec)
- Alfred Attipoe
President and CEO, Comunicare (Belgium)
- Yacine Sarr
CEO, Fiditech (Senegal)
Discussions
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Workshop 4 : Renewable energies/energy transition
Moderator:
- François Byrne
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Hybrid Power Solutions (Ontario)
Speakers:
- Marie Lapointe
Association de l’industrie électrique du Québec (AIEQ)
- Jeremy Voisin
President and CEO, MRV Energy (Canada)
- Sylvestre Keumogne
General Manager, Ingenium Solar (Cameroon)
- Konimba Dembele
Manager, Emicom (Mali)
Discussions
12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Networking luncheon
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – 1st session of B2B business meetings
- Agrifood sector
- Digital sector
- Educational technologies sector
- Renewable energies/energy transition sector
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Reception hosted by OIF – Cocktail
What type of business is this activity aimed at?
The aim of this event is to mobilize a variety of Quebec companies looking to grow internationally, and involved in leading-edge sectors, including:
- Energy transition and renewable energies: Solar, wind, energy efficiency and batteries;
- Digital services: Education (Edtech), healthcare (Medtech) and video games;
- Agri-food: Technologies for agricultural production (Agtech) and, more broadly, agri-food (processing, distribution).